Last week I spent
the day in Columbia with my friends at the South
Carolina Alzheimer’s Association's annual
conference. The room was filled with
energized caregivers including Mr. Carlos
Gibbons (Leeza’s dad.) I was happy to see Carlos
again, certainly because he is a great guy but
also because I knew he would add tremendous
value to the conversation. He spoke about
the importance of his caregiver’s support group
that he would meet with at a local restaurant
each week. And how much this group of
caregiving spouses would share their thoughts
and challenges, and even some laughs. (Lots of
laughs.)

The
session was also memorable for another gentleman
who stood to talk to this group of caregivers
and told us that he was living with Alzheimer’s.
He was still in the early stages of the disease,
so he has been involved in his own care as much
as possible. He spoke of the importance of
learning about becoming involved in appropriate
clinical trials as well as the importance of
honest communications with his loved ones.
He reiterated something that I heard my friend
Richard Taylor talk about last year to a group
of family caregivers. And that is to
remember that no matter how frustrating it may
be to you, in most cases, even though you have
said the same thing over and over again – each
repetition is the first time hearing it for your
loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease. And
isn’t that a small inconvenience to live through
to be able to still be in communication with the
one you love.